Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in autism spectrum disorders

According to the DSM-IV-TR, symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity are frequent in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This statement is supported by clinical observation and formal assessment. However, ASD diagnosis is still among the exclusion criteria for the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Such exclusion generates controversy and questions regarding the need and benefits of maintening or not these separations; so much so, that the proposed criteria for the DSM-V eliminate that exclusion condition. It is necessary a better understanding of the comorbidity between both entities in order to be able to have an appropriate sequence of the intervention goals. For that reason, if inattention and hyperactivity in individuals with ASD are considered as a representation of a comorbid diagnosis of ADHD, treatment plans for this group would be better adjusted and more likely to offer a real benefit in the outcome of their adaptive functioning.